While hair loss is most commonly associated with men of a certain age, it can also affect women. There are various reasons why a woman may begin to see her hair thinning or falling out, and the causes and treatments are explored below with these frequently asked questions.
What could cause women to begin losing their hair?
A simple question without a simple answer! Like anything associated with the human body, losing hair is rarely caused by a single, identifiable issue in every person who experiences it. The condition in women can be attributed to many things, including but not limited to:
Stress / emotional upheaval (some women report suffering from hair loss while undergoing a divorce, for example)
Medical causes
A reaction to certain types of medication
Genetic factors (if your mother or grandmother suffered from the problem, it is more likely that you will, too.)
How do I know what is causing my hair loss?
First and foremost, examine your life. The condition usually has a definitive cause, such as going through the menopause or taking new medication. If there is anything different from the way your life usually is, this could be causing your problem.
Secondly, talk to your GP. Although hair loss is not a serious condition (and is not an associated symptom of serious conditions), it can be due to certain hormone or vitamin deficiencies. These will need to be tested for via blood tests, so talking to a doctor is important if the hair loss is persistent.
Most cases of female hair loss are temporary, so your best bet initially is to sit and wait it out. If things have not improved in six months or so, do as advised above and seek the advice of a doctor.
Does using a hairdryer / hair straightens / shampoo cause women to lose their hair?
No, these are absolute myths usually peddled by those looking to sell a "miracle cure" for female hair loss. None of the aforementioned cause hair loss in women; it is caused by internal factors, not external appliances. There are other reasons to watch your use of such appliances and products, but hair loss is not one of them.
What is "normal" in terms of hair loss? How do I know when I definitely have a problem?
Depending on your hair thickness, it is normal to lose around 300 strands of hair a day just through normal brushing. This is increased when your hair is washed (or wet for any other reason). Those with thicker hair could lose twice as much per day without any difference being noticeable.
Hair loss only becomes an issue when you begin to see bald patches appearing on your scalp. Hair coming out when brushes or when showering is generally to be regarded as normal unless patches are forming on the skin.
How can I stop my hair from continuing to fall out?
As mentioned above, most causes are changeable - so the wait and see approach is applicable. If, however, you have a chronic condition, you have the same options available to balding men: hair transplants and scalp reduction. These costly procedures are purely cosmetic and are not recommended in anything but the most extreme of cases.
Contrary to many a manufacturer's claims, products such as specialist shampoos and conditioners are unlikely to stop your hair from falling out. Examine the internal cause to truly tackle any issues with female pattern baldness.
Hair Loss Causes In WomenFor anything to do with hair - from styling to dyeing to keeping locks looking luscious - visit HairCare101 today! Fun, friendly advice you can trust.